Portable receptacle support



April 24, 1951 B. v. GRIFFIN PORTABLE RECEPTACLE SUPPORT Filed March 29, 1948 Bess/e V/rg/ma gnffm INVENTOR. BY 3f,

M Allomq;

Patented Apr. 24, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT {OFFICE 2,550,554 PORTABLE RECEPTACLE SUPPORT Bessie Virginia Griflin, Newark, N. J. Application March 29, 1948, Serial No. 17,641

2 Claims.

,This invention comprises novel and useful improvements in a portable receptacle support and more specifically pertains to an appliance for supporting receptacles preferably upon the chest and the neck of the user.

1 It is a primary object of the invention to provide an apparatus for enabling invalids, convalescents, and all persons suffering from a temporary or permanent impairment of the use of the arms and hands to conveniently and in comfort drink fluid from cups or bowls supported by the device. An important feature of the invention'resides in the provision of a supporting device which may be comfortably worn upon the neck of the users and supported by the chest of such persons.

7 A further important feature of the invention resides in the provision of forth hereinbefore provided with stabilizing means for securing the receptacle in steady equilibrium, and further provided with a novel and improved construction whereby the receptacle may be disposed at various angular inclinations with respect to the user.

A still further feature of the invention resides in the provision of a device as set forth hereinbefore wherein the device may be readily adapted for securely receiving and supporting an alternative bowl, dish or similar receptacle.

And a final feature of the invention to be specifically enumerated herein, resides in the provision of such a device wherein provision is made for conveniently supporting a straw or tube by the device to enable consumption of the contents of receptacles supported thereby by the user.

These, together with various ancillary features and objects of the invention which will later become apparent as the following description proceeds, are attained by this device, the preferred embodiment of which has been illustrated by way of example only in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the apparatus showing the means for holding a cup attached thereto;

Figure 2 is a side elevational view showing the device positioned in an operative manner upon the person of the user, and indicated in dotted line the holding of a cup or glass and the posi tioning of a tube or straw in the device;

Figure 3 is a perspective view of a holder which may be applied to a'device for supporting a bowl, dish or the like;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional view, taken substantially from the plane of section line 4-4 of Figure 3 and showing the clampan appliance'as set ing means for securing the holder upon a bowl,

or dish, not shown; I

Figure 5 is a group perspective view, partsbe ing broken away, showing the pivotaladjustable connection and the associated parts offthede-j vice, whereby the holder may be detachably carried by the base member of the device; and,

Figure 6 is a fragmentary perspective IVlBWfl lustrating the construction of a part ,of the base member and particularly showing the means for supporting a tube or straw therefrom," one of the pivot pins and pivot lock means being indicated in detached position with respect to the view, Referring now more specifically to the accome panying drawings, wherein like numerals d esignate similar parts. throughout the various views, attention is directed first, to Figure 1, wherein the device is indicated generally by the numeral 10/ The device includes a base member lg, a hanger bar M and a receptacle holder l6, the two latter members being pivotally connected to the extremities of the base member. M has one end terminating in a hook portion 18 which is adapted to comfortably encircle and hang from the neck of the user, Figure 2. The stem of the hanger bar is provided with a curve 26 as shown in Figure 2,'whereby the lower extremity of the hanger bar comfortably conforms to and rests upon the chest of the user. As will readily be seen by Fig: ures 1 and 2, the hanger bar and the base member are formed on a flat stripof metal or other suitable material, preferably disposed on edge to lend strength and rigidity to the support;

At its lower extremity, the hanger bar M is pivotally connected asat 22 to the base member. As shown in the detail view of Figurefi, the pivot screw 22 extends through anaperture'll in the side of the base member, and also through acorresponding aperture, not shown, in the lower e5!- tremity of the hanger bar for pivotally securing these members together. w j j" The base member may conveniently consist of a single strip of flat material, folded upon itself and having its ends disposed laterally in opposite directions as indicated at 26 to provide legs whereby the basemember rests upon the chest of the user. These legs also provide s'tabilitywhen the base member is separated or hanger bar, and used separately hereinafter; I I

The intermediate portion of thebasefmember is folded to provide a pair of plates 28, which intermediate their extremitiesare bowed outwardly as set forth The hanger bar as shown in.

from thehook portion from each other to provide an enlarged passage therebetween, for a purpose to be later set forth. The two side plates forming an integral part of the base member are secured to each other as by clip 32, disposed on opposite sides of the passage portion 30. These clips may be detachably or if desired may be rigidly secured to the base member.

As above mentioned, the generally parallel plates 28. of the base member, at one end termimate in the oppositely disposed legs 26, while the other ends are integrally joined to provide a loop portion 34 which is provided with a laterally extending aperture 36 to receive a pivotal fastening screw 38 therein. This screw, as shown best in the detail View of Figure 5, extends through a pivot aperture 40 in the enlarged end d2 of the laterally extending arm 44 of the receptacle holder [6, whereby the latter is pivotally mounted Within the loop portion 34%. This receptacle holder includes a vertically extending member 55, which at. its upper end is provided with. an arcuatelyshaped band t8, and its lower extremity, withasimilar band 58, having upon its inner surface. an. arcuate horizontally disposed flange 52,'

whereby a. glass or cup may be rested and supportedwithinthe holder 8 6, with its bottom resting upon the flange 52 and its sides partially embraced. by the arcuate bands 48 and B.

As shown clearly inFigure 5, the enlarged portion 42 which is. of generally annular shape is provided. with a plurality of angularly spaced locking apertures 54 therein, which are adapted to selectively register with a corresponding aperture 56. in the loop portion 36, whereby a lock pin 58 may be. inserted in the aligned apertures to selectively position the holder at various angularly inclined positions with respect to the base member l2.

As will readily be understood, when the hanger bar. M-isremoved from the base member, the lat ter may be rested upon the bed, a table surface or. other supporting surface, whereby a glass may be received within the holder i6, and held in a suitable inclined position by properly angularly adjusting the. holder relative to the base member l2, whereby the legs 26 of the latter and the bottom band 56 of the receptacle holder constitute a. three point support for the receptacle.

A similar pivotal connection and angular adjusting. means is provided at the other end of the base. member t2, wherein it will be seen that the plates. 28 are provided with an aperture 65] for the reception of a. locking pin 62 therein, this pin being selectively engageable with similar apertures in the extremity of the hanger bar, which also not shown, will be fashioned similarly to the construction. of the. members an, 42, and 54 of. Figure. 5. Accordingly, it will readily be seen that the hanger bar may be selectively positioned atvariou's angular inclinations with respect to the base member, and securely locked in the selected position. Thus, the position shown in Figure 2 may be readily obtained, the member l2 being positionable and securab-le at different an-' gular positions upon the hanger bar, while the receptacle holder IS is likewise independently an gularly adjustable upon the base member.

. It will be noted by reference to Figures 1 and 5, that they upper surface of theloop portion 34, as indicated at (it, constitutes a stop or abutment means forengaging. the undersurface of the arm 44,. to. thereby limit. the, downward pivotal. movementof. the. receptacle holder I5 with respect to the base member. This feature therefore prevents the accidental lowering of the receptacle holder from the position shown in Figure 2, in the event the locking pin 58 is not in place.

As shown in Figure 2, a cup designated by the dotted line as may be conveniently received in the holder i6 while a straw or tube 68 may be positioned within the supporting passage in convenient position for easy use and access by the user. It should be here noted. that it. is within the province of this invention to make the side plates 28 of the base member of resilient construction, whereby the use of the clips 32 will enable the straw or tube 68 to be frictionally and compressably clamped within the opening 30. In order to enhance the utility of the holder, an optional holding means is indicated in Figures Sand 4 whereby dishes and bowls may be securely mounted upon the base member. For this purpose there is provided an arcuate substantially annular split ring it! provided with a supporting V lug 32 at one side thereof, which lug is further provided with an annular enlargement 74 provided with a pivotal hole '56 by means of which the receptacle holder may be pivotally mounted upon the base member. Additional angularly disposed locking apertures T8 are provided in the member id. The fastening and locking means is identical with that previously described and illustrated with connection to Figure 5.

The open ends of the ring are provided with.

parallel cars which are apertured to receive a fastening bolt 82. An intermediate groove. 84 is disposed upon the inner surface of the ring 10 throughout the entire ring thereof, this groove being provided with a shoulder 86 at the lower portion thereof, whereby the flange or rim of a bowl or dish may be received within the groove and the clamp bolt 82 tightened to cause the ring to securely support a bowl, dish or other receptacle. The operation of this form of. the device is identical with that set forth above.

From the foregoing it will be seen there has been provided a receptacle support which may be easily and comfortably applied to the person or the user for supporting cups, glasses, dishes, bOWlS or other receptacles in easily and readily adjusted position whereby the fluid contents may be consumed by the user. It will be particularly noted that the device is of simple construction, consisting essentially of flat strip material with particular means being provided for imparting stability to the device. Further, the two pivotal connections at the opposite ends of the base member provide a variety of adjustable positions to which the receptacle may be supported. Finally, it will be noted that this device opens a very satisfactory means for facilitating the feeding of invalids, most operative patients, persons paralyzed or temporarily incapable of using'their arms or hands, and for numerous other similar uses.

From the foregoing, the manner of construction in the device and of employing the same in its numerous uses will be readily understood and further explanation is accordingly believed to be unnecessary. Since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art and after a consideration of the foregoing specification and accompanying drawings, it is not intended to limit the invention to the exact construction shown and described, since this is to be regarded as illustrative of the principles and possibilites of the device Accordingly, it is not intended to limit the scope of the invention to the specific embodiment shown and described, but various changes in size, shape, and arrangement of parts may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention except as limited by the appended claims.

Having described claimed as new is:

l. A portable receptacle support including a base member comprising a single fiat strip having side plates formed by the intermediate section of said strip being folded upon itself and forming a loop at the fold, the end portions of said strip being bent divergently at right angles to said side plates, aligned apertures in each of said side plates adjacent the bend of said end portions, a hanger bar having one end formed as a hook portion curved to fit the neck of the user and, having a plurality of apertures in the'other end thereof, said hanger being pivotally connected to said base member between said side plates, and means pivotally mounting a receptacle holder within said loop, said hanger and said side plates being pivotally secured by a pivot pin extending through aligned apertures in said side plates and said hanger, the other apertures in said side plates and said hanger being angularly spaced, and locking pins selectively engaging said holder and said side plates when said angularly spaced apertures are in alignment.

2. A portable receptacle support including a base member comprising asingle flat strip havthe invention, what is ing side plates formed by the intermediate section of said strip being folded upon itself and forming a loop at the fold, the end portions of said strip being bent divergently at right angles to said side plates, aligned apertures in each of said side plates adjacent the bend of said end portions, a hanger bar having one end formed as a hook portion curved to fit the neck of the user and having a plurality of apertures in the other end thereof, said hanger being pivotally connected to said base member between said side plates, and means pivotally mounting a receptacle holder within said loop, said last means including a pivot pin and a locking pin at each end of said base member and a plurality of angularly spaced alignable apertures in each of said holder and hanger bar, said locking pins being selectively engageable through said apertures in said holder and said hanger bars when said apertures are in alignment.

BESSIE VIRGINIA GRIFFIN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the 

